Monoecious annual herb to 90 cm high; mature leaves and stems mostly glabrous or nearly so between the scattered stinging hairs, young stems and petioles quite pubescent. Leaves ovate to elliptic; base broadly wedge-shaped; margins deeply and narrowly toothed (rarely doubly toothed), hairy; apex rounded, obtuse or less commonly acute; lamina to 60 mm long (usually less than 40 mm) and 45 mm wide, paler beneath; petiole of leaves towards base of plant 1–2(–3) cm long, often at least half as long as lamina; stipules less than 5 mm long. Inflorescences bisexual, mostly shorter than petiole. Flowers almost sessile, 1–2 mm long, c. 1 mm wide, larger perianth parts of female flowers with hairs fringing edges and forming single line down middle of outer surface. Flowers all year.
LoM, MuM, Wim, GleP, VVP, VRiv, MSB, RobP, MuF, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, WPro, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz, MonT, HFE, VAlp. Naturalised all States. Native of Europe and northern Africa. Widespread in most areas of the state except the alps, often a weed of gardens or vegetable crops.
